Shirt packaging device



Sept, 15,, 1953 s. LIGHTER 2,652,14fi

SHIRT PACKAGING DEVICE Filed Aug. 50, 1951 7- ORA/Em.

Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES f :O'FF ICE SHIRT PACKAGING DEVICE Stephen"Lighter,"Whitefish'Bay;Wis assignor-to Sutherland Paper Company, Kalamazoo', Mich a-corporation ofiMichigan Application August 30, 1951, SerialNm-ZQAAM 4' Claims. 1

This invention relates in general to improvements in the art of wrapping articles of clothing or apparel such as shirts, and relates more specifically to improvements in garment packaging devices especially adapted for use in folding and packaging freshly laundered soft shirts.

The primary object of my present-invention is to provide an improved shirt packaging device which is simple and inexpensive in construction but adapted to be readily applied so as 'to-neatly fold and to maintain eachpackagedarticle'in such neat condition.

Many different types of wrappers and other devices for protectively packaging freshly'laundered shirts and similar garments, have heretofore been proposed and used commercially to a considerable extent; and while some of these prior protectors have been quite satisfactory for the purpose of packing dress shirts'or the like having relatively stiff integral collars, none'has proven satisfactory and free from annoyance when applied to so-called sport'shirts having soft collars adapted to have the lapels thereof worn either open or closed, and alsohaving one or more front pockets provided with closure flaps.

f It is exceedingly desirable whenpackaging these soft shirts, to provide a simple wrapperof flexiblesheet stock such as cardboard-,which-is conveniently applicable to any of the various styles of sport shirts, so as to protectively cover and 7 hold the collar lapels and pocket closure-flaps wrapper especially adapted for use on sport shirts or the like, and which meets all'of the above ,rnentioned requirements in a most effective-manner.

Another importantobject of thisinvention is to vprovide an improved shirt packaging device formed of a unitary sheet of cardboard or the like and which is adapted to neatly fold and to confine the folded shirt therein without the aid of separate fastenersor adhesive.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a foldable board for enwrapping sport shirts or the like, which is applicable to open or closed collared garments of this type to hold thecollar lapels firmlyagainst the shirt bosom,

and to likewise hold pocket closure'flaps against the. outer pocket walls,.therebyc making the device applicable to various styles of shirts/ Still an'otherimportant object-of my invention is .to provide a, universally applicable shirt folding and wrapping unit for effecting snug folding and neat final packaging of various shirt- 'a shirt packaging sheet-"of substantially rectangular shape which maybe formed of inexpensive cardboard with the aid of punches and dies and with minimum waste of stock, and which may beprinted or decorated on one side of the sheet so as to clearly reveal the printing on -both sides of the'final package.

Theseand other -more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description, but the gist of my present'improvement is the provisionof a packaging device formed of a single'sheetof cardboard orsimilar stock and having amain panel adapted toassist in folding and to be ultimately confined within the folded shirt, an integral auxiliary v panel disposable over the shoulders and above the upper shirt bosom and front collar lapels of the folded garment, and an integral flap disposable-beneaththe folded article and around the lower edge thereof and being-interlockable with the auxiliary-panel to maintain the wrapper in position.

A clear conception of the several features involved in the invention and of the construction and mode of applying a typical sport shirt packaging device embodying the improvements, may ,be had byreferringto the drawing accompanying and forming a part of, this specification whereinlike reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

,lifig. l is a plan View of one of my improved shirt packagin idevices, showing the same in :flat conditionwith the transverse hinge or, score lines shown lightwhile die-cut configurations are shown, as heavier lines;

-Fig. 2 is a viewdepicting the initial steps of applying thedeviceof Fig. 1- tea sport shirt or the'like, having a collar adapted to be-closed or buttoned atthe *frontof =the collar band;

Fig. 3 is a-rear or'bot-tom yiewofthe final package embodying one of the improved wrappers; and

Fig. 4 is a front or top view of the same final package.

While the invention has been shown and described herein as having been applied to a soft sport shirt having a closed type of collar and several pockets at its front, it is not my desire or intent to limit its application to such shirts, since the improved packaging unit is also applicable with equal facility and advantage to open collar shirts having one or no pockets and to shirts having long or short sleeves; and it is also contemplated that specific descriptive terms employed herein be given the broadest possible nterpretation consistent with the disclosure.

Referring particularly to Fig. l of the drawing, the improved shirt packaging device or unit shown therein, comprises in general, a single sheet of rather heavy but flexible stock adapted to be folded about several transverse hinge or score lines 6, l, 8, 9 and being out along other irregular lilies IE3, H, IE to provide a medial main panel i i, an auxiliary upper panel [5, an auxiliary lower panel H5, and a laterally widened retainer band or flap ll.

The sheet or blank is of substantiall rectangular shape, and these sheets may be cut from cardboard or similar flexible stock with the aid of punches and dies and with minimum waste of material. The length and width of the blanks is such that the dimensions of the medial or main panel Ill will determine the approximate size of the final package, and this main panel M is provided with an integral collar engaging tongue IE5 at its upper central portion and with sloping shoulder engaging portions is on the opposite sides of the tongue 19. The tongue i9 is out from the stock which forms the upper auxiliary panel l5, along the irregular shear line Ill, and the mid-portion of the tongue l9 may be indented to provide a button protecting tab 2i formed integral with the upper panel [5.

The auxiliary upper panel i5 is swingably connected to the top of the main panel M at h alined hinge or score lines 6, and while the opposite corner portions of this panel l5 may be cut away along curved lines 23 for aesthetic reasons, the upper panel should still be of substantial transverse width throughout its vertical length in Order to cover the lapels of various styles of shirts when finally applied. The midportion of the panel E5 near its swinging edge, has the spaced slits l2 cut therein and adapted to receive interlocking elements 24 formed integral with the swinging end of the flap IT, in a manner to be later explained.

The auxiliary lower panel i6 is swingably connected to the bottom of the main panel l4 along the alined hinge or score lines l, and is substantiall rectangular in shape. The laterally widened retainer flap I! is cut from the stock of the main and lower panels l4, I6 and is int grally swingably connected to the main panel is near the tongue is, along the score lines 8. The portion of this flap I! in proximity to the bottom edge of the medial panel I4 is spanned by the hinge lines 9, and the fastening elements 2d are associated with the flap ll beyond these score lines. The mid-portion of the flap [7 between the upper and lower score lines 8, 9 is preferably widened transversely of the sheet, a much as possible without undesirably weakening the main panel H1, in order to cover the pocket portions of shirts having pockets thereon.

When the improved packaging devices have been properly constructed as above described, the sheets may be compactly stacked within easy reach of the packer and applied to various styles of shirts in quick succession and in the following manner. Each of the laundered shirts 26 should be spread out upon a clean surface with the front thereof buttoned and the bosom 21 and collar lapels 28 disposed downwardly, whereupon the tongue I9 should be slipped beneath the rear of the shirt collar 28 and the upp panel l5 may be swung downwardl about the hinge lines 6 over the collar 29 and beneath the shirt bosom 21 while the other panels l4, 16 are caused to rest flatwise against the back of the spread shirt 26.

The retainer flap I! should then be swun upwardly about the score lines 8 over the exterior of the shirt collar 29 as illustrated in Fig. 2, after which the opposite side portions 3| and the sleeves 32 of the shirt should be folded inwardly about the side edges and over the panels I4, I6. While the flap I1 is still disposed as in Fig. 2, the lower tail portion 33 of the shirt 26 should be folded upwardly about the lower straight edge of the lower panel l6, whereupon this panel may be swung upwardly about the hinge lines I to snugly but neatly confine the folded sleeves 32 and the shirt tail 33 between the panels HE, IS.

The flap ll may thereafter be swung downwardly about the score lines 8 over the shirt bosom so as to snugly confine the pocket Closur flaps 35, and the enwrapped shirt 26 may then be reversed. The lower portion of the flap H should finally be bent about the lower edge of the front panel 55 along the lines 9, and the elements 24 should be brought into interlocking engagement with the slits 12 to complete the P ing operation and to thoroughly confine and protect the folded shirt as depicted in Figs. 3 and 4, without necessity of using adhesive or other separate fasteners.

When the packing operations have been thus completed, the flexible stock Will exert a sli pressure against the shirt folds and the collar lapels 28 and pocket flaps 35, sufficient to prevent wrinkling, and the tab 25 will cover and conceal the collar button when applied to closed collar shirts 26 such as shown. However, the improved packaging device may also be applied to open collar and short sleeve sport shirts which may also be devoid of pockets, and when thus applied the panel I5 will still function to effectively protect the more widely separated collar lapels 28.

From the foregoing detailed description of the present invention, it will be apparent that the improved shirt packaging device while being of simple and inexpensive construction, is in fact conveniently applicable to various styles of shirts 26 to effectively protect the garments against wrinkling. While the improved Wrapper maintains the shirt 25 in neatly folded condition it still exposes enough of the enwrapped article to present a neat and highly aesthetic appearance; and advertising matter and folding instructions may be applied to the surfaces of the panel l5 and flap i! on the same side of the blank, thereby facilitating printing while still exposing the printing to view on the opposite sides of the final package.

An important feature of my invention is the provision of one or more retainer bands or flaps formed integral with one of the panels and adapted to be brought into clamping engagement with the rear of the package, so that integral portions of the blank may be utilized to effect final attachment of the wrapper, and while these retainers are shown as being formed integral with the main panel [4 and as interlocking with the auxiliary panel [5, such formation is not essential. Another important feature of the invention is the provision of a flap ll, whether used for retaining purposes or not, but which is also formed integral with one of the panels and is adapted to hook over and to clampingly engage the rear of the final package.

The formation of the tongue [9 and of the retainer band or flap l1 furthermore insures proper protection of the collar 29 and of the pocket closures 35, while also permitting final attachment of the wrapper without the aid of separate fasteners, but the interlock elements 24 still enable the package to be easily opened. The improved folding boards may be made of any desired size to accommodate any style of shirt, and the units may obviously be produced at insignificant cost and compactly stacked for shipment and storage. The device has proven highly successful and satisfactory especially as applied to sport shirts and may be readily applied by inexperienced help.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of application of the shirt packaging device herein specifically shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a shirt packaging device, a unitary sheet of stock provided with upper and lower transverse hinges dividing the sheet into an upper and a medial and a lower panel, the medial and lower panels being formed for direct coaction with the upper back portion of the shirt and the upper panel being formed to swing about said upper hinge forwardly over the shirt collar and shoulders and against the collar lapels and upper bosom of the shirt, a tongue projecting from the upper mid-portion of the medial panel and being formed for insertion beneath the rear of the shirt collar, and a flap connected by a second upper transverse hinge to said medial panel below said tongue, said lower panel being swingable upwardly and rearwardly about said lower hinge toward said medial panel to fold the shirt bottom upwardly against the back and said flap being subsequently swingable downwardly over the folded bottom and back of the shirt about said second upper hinge and having its lower end formed for attachment to the lower portion of said upper panel to complete the package.

2. A shirt packaging device as per claim 1, wherein the unitary sheet of stock has a uniform width at the medial and lower panels which is less than the width of the shirt body beneath the sleeves, and in which the opposite sides of these panels constitute edges for efiecting inward folding of the sleeves and opposite sides of the shirt before the bottom thereof is folded upwardly against the back by swinging said lower panel about the lower hinge.

3. A shirt packaging device as per claim 1, wherein the flap is formed from the mid-portions of the medial and lower panels and is of greater width than that of said tongue and second upper hinge.

4. A shirt packaging device as per claim 1, wherein the flap is provided with a lower transverse hinge remote from its upper suspension hinge and which lower hinge is disposed in substantial alinement with the lower transverse hinge between the medial and lower panels, and in which the lower free end of the flap is constructed to interlock with slits formed in the mid-portion of the upper panel.

STEPHEN LIGHTER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,110,701 McCahey Sept. 15, 1914 1,720,679 Karn July 16, 1929 2,371,841 Paulsen Mar. 20, 1945 

